The National Football League have announced the six finalists for the 2025 Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year award, with the winner to be determined by a fan vote.

Fans can cast their ballots at nfl.com/rookies through to end of day Friday 30th January, before the winner is recognised during Super Bowl Week in the Bay Area.

The finalists were selected based on their performance throughout the 2025 season, following weekly fan voting for Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Week honours, and reflects multiple positions on both sides of the ball:

Jaxson Dart, quarterback, New York Giants
TreVeyon Henderson, running back, New England Patriots
Ashton Jeanty, running back, Las Vegas Raiders
Tetairoa McMillan, wide receiver, Carolina Panthers
Carson Schwesinger, linebacker, Cleveland Browns
Tyler Shough, quarterback, New Orleans Saints

Despite having to wait behind Russell Wilson at the start of the campaign, Dart delivered one of the most dynamic rookie quarterback seasons in recent memory, leading all newcomers at the position in rushing yards (487), rushing touchdowns (nine) and passer rating (91.7). He tied for the most passing touchdowns (15), ranked third in passing yards (2,272), surpassed Josh Allen for the second-most rushing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback in the Super Bowl era, and became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to score a rushing touchdown in five straight games.

Henderson averaged a rookie-best 5.1 yards per carry, tied for the most rushing touchdowns (nine) and finished with the second-most scrimmage yards (1,132). He joined Saquon Barkley and Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Lenny Moore as the only rookies with four rushing touchdowns of 50 yards or more.

After a slow start, Jeanty led all rookies in scrimmage yards, set a Raiders franchise record with 1,321 scrimmage yards, and became just the third rookie all-time with at least 50 receptions, five rushing touchdowns and five receiving touchdowns.

McMillan topped all rookies in receiving yards (1,014), receiving yards per game (59.6) and touchdown catches (seven), while also breaking the Panthers’ rookie receiving yards record.

On defense, Schwesinger led all rookies with 146 tackles and 11 tackles for loss, tying Luke Kuechly for the longest streak of 10-tackle games by a rookie since 2000.

Finally, Shough posted a rookie-high 67.6 completion percentage, ranked second in passing yards (2,384) and passer rating (91.3) and set multiple Saints rookie records, including passing yards and completion percentage — all despite not being promoted to the starting role until comparatively late in the season.

This marks the 24th year Pepsi has presented the NFL Rookie of the Year award and the 25th year as the league’s official soft drink.